Fresh Water resourcesFresh Water resources

Global OverviewGlobal Overview

While 67% of Earth’s surface is covered by water, only less than 2.7% of global water is freshwater. Most of the freshwater (2.05%) are locked in ice caps and glaciers. Only less than 0.7% is available for human use.

Over two thirds of the earth's surface is covered with water, 97.2% of which is contained in the five oceans. The Antarctic ice sheet, containing 90% of all fresh water on the planet, is visible at the bottom. Atmospheric water vapour can be seen as clouds, contributing to the earth's albedo.

Iceberg and Polar cap store most of the fresh wateron Earth

Volume of water stored inVolume of water stored inthe water cycle's reservoirsthe water cycle's reservoirs

Reservoir Volume of water

(106 km³)

Percent

of total

Ocean 1370 97.25

Ice caps & glaciers 29 2.05

Groundwater 9.5 0.68

Lakes 0.125 0.01

Soil Moisture 0.065 0.005

Atmosphere 0.013 0.001

Streams & rivers 0.0017 0.0001

Biosphere 0.0006 0.00004

Scarcity of fresh waterScarcity of fresh water

On a global basis, fresh water is a increasingly scarce resource. It is partially caused by increasing population coupled by change of consumption pattern and climate changes.

Water consumption for food Water consumption for food production (I)production (I)

Meat production use a lot of water when compared to growing food crops.

A shift in food consumption pattern toward more meat consumption will cause a substantial increase in water consumption.

Water consumption for food Water consumption for food production (II)production (II)

Competing water uses (I)Competing water uses (I)

Competing water uses (II)Competing water uses (II)

Industrialized / developed countries tend to use more water in their industrial production.

Other countries tend to use more water for agricultural uses.

Fresh Water supplyFresh Water supply

Problems related to Water crisisProblems related to Water crisis

Inadequate access to safe drinking water by over 1.1 billion people

Groundwater overdrafting leading to diminished agricultural yields

Overuse and pollution of water resources harming biodiversity

Regional conflicts over scarce water resources sometimes resulting in warfare.

Threats to fresh water resources Threats to fresh water resources

Climate change causes change in frequencies of droughts and floods.

Depletion of aquifers caused by over-consumption as a result of population growth.

Pollution and contamination by sewage, agricultural and industrial runoff.

Distribution of population and Distribution of population and water resourceswater resources

Pressure of freshwater ecosystemPressure of freshwater ecosystem

Fresh Water OutlookFresh Water Outlook

Estimated from existing data, some countries are going to experience serious shortage of fresh water supply in the coming 20 years time.

China, India and South Africa and Middle East countries may among the most adversely affected countries.

Water in ChinaWater in China

According to the World Bank forecast, Mainland China has only a per-capita share of 2700 cubic meters per annum, one fourth of the world's average at present.

Half of China's 617 largest cities face water deficits. Beijing is among the most water-short.

The areas south of the Yangtze River, China's longest, which account for only 36.5 per cent of the country's total territory, have 80.9 per cent of its total water resources. However the areas north of the Yangtze, which make up 63.5 per cent of China, possess only 19.1 per cent of total water resources.

Desalination of sea water as Desalination of sea water as fresh water supplyfresh water supply

Desalination of sea water can be done either via distillation or membrane process.

Both process requires large amount of energy and thus costly, which means desalination remains an expensive option for providing reliable fresh water supply, restricted to only economically well-off countries.